JOHNRIEL Casimero is taking his challenge against Naoya Inoue to another level.
The reigning World Boxing Organization (WBO) bantamweight title holder said he is willing to face the unbeaten Naoya right in his hometown of Japan if that would convince him to finally face the 30-year-old Filipino in a world title unification bout.
Casimero added he’s even ready to fight Inoue right in the Japanese ring star's own living room.
“Puwede kahit pa sa bahay nila. Sabi ko nga kahit sa bahay mo, lalabanan kita,” the native of Ormoc said, mocking the 27-year-old Inoue.
The camp of Casimero has accused the Japanese holder of the International Boxing Federation (IBF) and World Boxing Association (WBA) belts of docking the Filipino after their supposed unification match was pushed off for the second straight time this year.
Initially, the two were scheduled to tangle last April in Las Vegas, but the outbreak of the COVID-19 pandemic led to the postponement of the fight.
It was later reset for an August playdate when boxing fights finally resumed. But Inoue has failed to come over to the U.S., leading to the shelving of the bout.
That forced Casimero’s promoter, MP Promotions, to look for another opponent and found a willing taker in Duke Micah of Ghana, who the Filipino destroyed in just three rounds a week ago to retain his crown.
Eversince his fight with Inoue was shelved, Casimero and MP Promotions president Sean Gibbons repeatedly called the unbeaten champ a 'Japanese turtle,' who's hiding beneath his shell.
'You're a turtle not a monster," said Casimero, referring to Inoue's famous moniker.
What really irked Casimero was Inoue’s decision to take on Jason Maloney with his two title belts at stake this Oct. 31 in Las Vegas.
“Pumunta ako dito sa Las Vegas para labanan siya, para sa laban naming dalawa. Nagagalit ako kasi eight months na ako dito, naka-tengga ako dito. Parang nasa kulungan kami rito. Kasi ensayo kami, balik sa bahay, tapos tulog. Kinabukasan ensayo ulit,” he explained.
“Parang nasisira na ulo ko kakahintay sa kanya. Tapos biglang iba yung kinalaban niya. Kaya na-depress ako sa kanya. Gusto ko na talagang sapakin.”
Casimero was left but to pour his frustrations out on the poor Micah.
“Kaya nung kalaban ko na si Duke Micah, siya napag-tripan ko. Napatulog ko ng maaga,” he said.
But hopes of an Inoue fight remains very much on the horizon, according to Casimero.
“Si Naoya baka July or February laban. Dito na (Las Vegas),” he said.
For now, Casimero will try to savor his latest victory over Micah together with his family as the Filipino world champion is finally bound to return home by Oct. 9 or 10 at the most.
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